Leading edge for aircraft made of reinforced composite material

Abstract

The present invention relates to a leading edge ( 1 ) for aircraft made of composite material, characterized in that it comprises on its inner face a metallic-type reinforcement ( 2 ) firmly adhered to the mentioned inner face of the leading edge ( 1 ) arranged such that it confers the leading edge ( 1 ) with better capacity to adapt to deformability and greater absorption of energy due to impacts. The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a leading edge ( 1 ) with a metallic reinforcement ( 2 ) for aircraft made of composite material.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An aircraft skin part having a leading edge made of composite material, said part having an inner face which part comprises on its inner face a metallic-type reinforcement directly and firmly adhered to the said inner face of the leading edge by having been sprayed thereon said reinforcement being arranged such that it confers the leading edge with better capacity to adapt to deformability and greater absorption of energy due to impacts. 
     
     
       2. A part having a leading edge for aircraft made of composite material according to  claim 1 , wherein the metallic reinforcement has a grating shape. 
     
     
       3. A part having a leading edge for aircraft made of composite material according to  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement is made of aluminum. 
     
     
       4. A part having a leading edge for aircraft made of composite material according to  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement has variable thickness. 
     
     
       5. A part having a leading edge for aircraft made of composite material according to  claim 4 , wherein the thickness of the reinforcement is greater farther from the leading edge. 
     
     
       6. A part having a leading edge for aircraft made of composite material according to  claim 2 , wherein the size of the metallic grating is variable. 
     
     
       7. A part having a leading edge or aircraft made of composite material according to  claim 6 , wherein the size of the metallic grating is smaller the farther from the leading edge for the purpose of facilitating deformation of the leading edge and involving the largest possible surface in absorbing energy after an impact. 
     
     
       8. An aircraft skin part having a leading edge made of composite material, said part having an inner face, said inner face having had having sprayed directly thereon and having adherent thereto a metallic reinforcing grating. 
     
     
       9. An aircraft skin part according to  claim 8 , wherein the reinforcing grating is made of aluminum. 
     
     
       10. An aircraft skin part according to  claim 8 , wherein the reinforcing grating has variable thickness. 
     
     
       11. An aircraft skin part according to  claim 8 , wherein the reinforcing grating has a thickness that increases as distance from the leading edge increases.